Commission adopts contentious ordinance

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PIQUA — Mayor Lucy Fess may have said it best of the four third-reading ordinances on Tuesday’s commission meeting agenda, one that has proven troublesome, as she remarked, “We are getting rid of all of them tonight — hopefully.”

With little discussion, commission proceeded to adopt both ordinances repealing schedule A and A-1 of Chapter 33 in the Piqua Code related to wages of certain municipal employees, along with vacating two public right-of-ways. One of those pertained to an alley just to the north of the currently under construction Piqua Central Intermediate school campus on Park and Nicklin Avenues.

According to the ordinance, part of the current alley will be vacated with an entry/exit re-established onto one-way Ann Street. An initial design that commissioners Bill Vogt and John Martin had shared concerns over during a May commission meeting. Where access for residents utilizing the alley, once the relocation is established, may have been inadequate such as in the case of hauling a trailer.

The vacating ordinance had several commissioners performing their own tests (Curt South, construction project representative for Piqua schools also performed his own test) after previous discussions to see whether or not area residents would have issues with the limited entry/exit.

A subsequent revision was made to the alley approach, according to Chris Schmiesing, city planner, with commissioners proceeding to adopt the ordinance with no further remarks on what had been a previous contentious subject.

Commission members also adopted a resolution to enter into a lease agreement to permit use of Fountain Park, Hardman Field, and Hance Pavilion to the Piqua Fourth of July Association. This was one of only two resolutions on the agenda, including the adoption of a contract to L.J. DeWeese Co. Inc. for the sidewalk ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance program.

This resolution will see to the installation of over 70 catch basins and 113 ADA ramps that must be completed before street resurfacing.

Commission meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. every first and third Tuesday of the month, on the second floor of the Government Municipal Complex, in the commission chamber. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. For information on meetings, work sessions, and more, visit piquaoh.org.

Bethany J. Royer may be reached at (937) 773-2721 or on Twitter @TheDailyCall

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